Assam burns; Mamata, Modi heat things up

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked in seven states like West Bengal and Maharasthra and that of domestic LPG in six states as state-owned oil firms’ recalibrated rates to reflect changes in local levies.

The exercise also resulted in petrol and diesel prices being reduced in 11 states like Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat and Odisha. Besides, LPG prices were reduced in 12 states including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha.

Mamata Banerjee however stuck to her stand of hitting the streets against the rise in fuel prices.

'I have always protested whenever the central government has increased the prices of petrol and diesel. I don't support price rise of oil. I will continue to protest against this price rise and will hit the streets. Whenever they (Congress-led central government) increase the oil prices, they don't bother to consult or inform us,' Banerjee said.

''Why was such a decision taken without consulting the state governments and UPA allies at a time when we were busy attending the swearing-in ceremony of President Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi this morning ... This amounts to cheating the people,'' she said.

Although, in a sense of her increasing appreciation of who her real enemies are, she added a small statement saying she would not let the Left use this protest as an excuse to drive a wedge between her and the UPA.

(The Left doesn't need much help though)

Image: Chief Minister of West Bengal state and Trinamool Congress party chief Mamata Banerjee speaks during a Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, Saturday, July 21, 2012. (AP)